Too many Washington sources are telling us this, so it may be imminent.

Israel is set to attack Iran's nuclear facilities, fearing that the Islamic regime will use atomic weapons on the Jewish state.

Israel has long assumed the right of pre-emption -- that is, the right to attack and even make war with Arab states that are developing nuclear weapons.

"They are ready to go," a top former American diplomat with close ties to Israel tells a source close to NewsMax.

There have been mutterings that time is short and Israel will do to Iran what it did to Iraq in 1981.

During that year, Israeli bombers struck Iraq's Osirak nuclear power plant -- and in seconds destroyed Iraq's ability make nuclear bombs. Israel's Prime Minister Menachem Begin came under fierce criticism worldwide, but at home he became a hero to his people.

Israel's current prime minister, Ariel Sharon, no doubt shares Begin's determination that "never again" will a Holocaust be perpetrated against the Jewish people.

Stopping Iran's nuclear program has always been at the top of Israel's "to-do" list.

Before Sept. 11, 2001 there were scattered reports that Israel was preparing to strike Iranian targets.

Clearly, Iran today is much more advanced in its weapons program.

One source told NewsMax that Israel is not sure it can destroy Iran's nuclear facilities with aerial bombing alone and may need to use special ops forces on the ground.

Others suggest that Israel will deploy one of its submarines to the Persian Gulf and fire cruise missiles at key targets.

The U.S. believes that Iran has pursued a nuclear weapon for the past 18 years. In recent years, the Iranians have given only lip service to the U.N.'s International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

Israel does not believe that oil-rich Iran is interested in building a peaceful atomic program solely for domestic energy needs.

And Israel has become frustrated with the U.N.'s inability to get Iran to comply. Last week, Israeli officials were miffed after the head of the IAEA, Mohammed Elbaradei visited Israel and demanded that Israel give up its nuclear arsenal.

An attack by Israel is fraught with worries.

How would Iran retaliate? Could the attack spark a regional war -- or worse?

And could the U.S., an ally of Israel, become a target as well?

An Israeli attack before November may present other problems -- and impact President Bush's re-election effort.

One Washington security expert suggested the Iranians might simply blockade the Straits of Hormuz and cut the world off from Middle Eastern oil for a short period.

A more likely scenario would be Iran using biological and chemical weapons against Israel.

I see Sharon as more of a hawk than Begin. Surely he won't allow Iran that type of leverage. What other options are there? Iran surely realizes that if they block Hormuz - we will definitely get involved.

"One Washington security expert suggested the Iranians might simply blockade the Straits of Hormuz and cut the world off from Middle Eastern oil for a short period.

A more likely scenario would be Iran using biological and chemical weapons against Israel."

Newsmax is so full of crap. Iran doesn't have the sea or air power to blockade a bathtub, much less the world's oil.

Moreover, without nukes of their own, Iran can't do squat to Israel...lest Iran be destroyed by Israel's 200+ nukes.

Oh, and if Israel is going to take out Iran's reactors, the smart money would be just after Sharon pulls out of Gaza (because he'll need to shore up his right wing support at home at that point). Like I said, Newsmax is completely full of crap.

10 Legislative Days Left Until The AWB Expires

9
posted on 07/18/2004 2:49:01 PM PDT
by Southack
(Media Bias means that Castro won't be punished for Cuban war crimes against Black Angolans in Africa)

>>One Washington security expert suggested the Iranians might simply blockade the Straits of Hormuz and cut the world off from Middle Eastern oil for a short period.<<

With a significant amount of the United States Navy and Air Force present in the Persian Gulf region, the lifespan of Iranian forces attempting to block the Straits of Hormuz would be very short and exciting. Would provide a good pretext for direct action against the mullahs.

The trick for the Israelis is how to execute the missions without getting intercepted enroute by those same forces. Or perhaps cooperate? That would be an interesting photo - heavily armed Israeli attack jets and fighter escorts tanking from USAF KC-10s.

10
posted on 07/18/2004 2:49:38 PM PDT
by Captain Rhino
("If you will just abandon logic, these things will make a lot more sense to you!")

If Sharon/Israel allow Iran to get nukes, it's all over. Fini, end of Israel. The only safe place for a jew to live will be the United States, as the entire State of Israel will cease to exist. Irans leaders are insane.

I really hope Sharon is hawkish enough. Israel will be nuked once one of these nutjob arab/muzzie states get a bomb.

This makes sense, but of course there's a minor editorial error in the article. Iran is a fundamentalist muslim nation and is sworn to the destruction of Israel, but Iran is not an arab nation. Iran is predominantly persian. Moot issue of course, in the context of the muslim war against Israel, but it's still careless editing on the part of Newsmax.

One wonders how long we can stem the flow. Eventually, I see two ultimate scenarios for the planet earth - and let me know if you disagree.

#1. Terrorists or warring nations will destroy or nearly annihilate the human race either through nuclear, chemical or biological weapons. The proliferation of technology and everyone's access to it make it inevitable.

#2. In our efforts to protect ourselves, we will need to monitor as closely as possible everyone on earth through surveillance technology. Everytime terrorists attack, more measures will be implemented until every possible loophole is closed. The Orwellian era prevails.

I find myself hoping that Israel will do a preemptive strike on Iran just like it did to Iraq. Actually, the U.S. should do this, but we cannot because president Bush has been hamstrung over taking preemptive action against Iraq - which - in may opinion - was the right thing to do. I think the preemptive strike doctrine of the Bush administration is exactly how this country should conduct its foreign affairs with "hostile" countries. Israel has been doing this for a long time.

The hard truth is that the middle east will never be "pacified" until all strongholds of radical Islamists are destroyed and turned into western like democracies.

That means Iran, Syria, Jordan(?) will all need to fall. It is also time to make it clear to moderate Islamic states like Saudia Arabia, Yemen, etc. that they must crush the radicals in their countries or be considered as subject to overthrow also.

I am not talking about setting up a colonial American Empire. I just want to see western like democracies. That is the only "secular" thing I think will be remotely succesful over there.

17
posted on 07/18/2004 2:54:35 PM PDT
by Sola Veritas
(Trying to speak truth - not always with the best grammar or spelling)

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